Thursday, June 28, 2007
The Broca Divide
I noticed something yesterday. Recently around here the watercooler conversation is the Jena situation, more commonly known as the Jena Six. I learned that it had taken own national coverage. It was in a Chicago newspaper, and a radio show. So Since this happened in my backyard basically. I felt it was right to go with the theme that my blog has been taking the last couple of post, Racial harmony. What happened is there was a tree that some black students wanted to sit under, but it was reserved for white students only. When the black students sat under it the next day nooses were hanging from the tree. Racial tension was increased in the city. Fights broke out and eventually led to the deaths of some students who are now on trail. Why is it so easy to tear apart a community solely on the basis of race. I have been to Jena a couple of times and my high school played them in homecoming a few times. So this extreme case of racism feels too close for comfort. I know racism exist. It exist in my hometown, but this is just so extreme. White only, this is not the 1950's, it is the 21st century. The bond that I spoke of in my last post is there, but acts like this make it hard to see. I grew up in the south race is apart of everyday life, not always negative. Just always there. Now the trial has come along and less than half of the people called to jury duty showed up. Do people not care? I think that if we fight hard enough that racism can be reduced. Can it be destroyed? I don't know, but I wish that it could. Humanity is so divided it really makes me feel sad. I really hope that we can mend this hatred among us. From the middle east to US-Mexican-border to Jena Louisiana human beings seem to be at odds with each other over seemingly superficially things. We are all humans, we breathe the same air, drink the same water, live off the same ground, live on the same earth. Why are we so divided?
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12 comments:
I don't think anyone died, but it is a racially charged incident that led to the arrest of several black youths, after they apparently beat up a white youth that was a party to the hanging of the nooses. Prior to that a black youth had been beat up at a party by whites in which no charges were filed.
HOw can a tree be reserved for whites only? How can any of this happen today? It is a sad world we are in right now when the obvious cause of so much pain and destruction is ignored.
I remember the "whites" and "colored" signs as a small child. Remorji's right. No one died. Harsh prosecution for juveniles who were inflamed and unprotected by the high school's negligence seems particularly Draconian. It seems the New South of the 1970s died a violent death.
Let us know when you see the "white" and "colored" signs around the university. You might also see nightriders in the parish's district attorney's office.
Thankfully I live in what is, for the most part, an accepting area. But every time I go back home to smalltown (relatively speaking) minnesota I feel the racial tension and it I just can't understand why there is such a divide. It wasn't that was just a decade ago. Parts of our country seem to be reverting to the 1800s in terms of acceptance.
In case anyone should misunderstand, the tree wasn't literally "whites only" as in Jim Crow. In high school, certain groups of students stake out their own little areas. The jocks may hang out by a brick wall, the nerds might hang around a certain bench, etc. Well apparently in Jena, a group of white students had appropriated a tree as their area. Apparently there aren't enough trees to go around and the black students wanted the white students to share the tree.
Now why the hate? I think it's a very long, elaborate story that encompasses about 400 years worth of greed, pain, anger, retribution, insecurity (some people have to make up idiotic reasons to think they're better than others just to feel good about themselves), and self-hatred (if someone tells you something long enough you start to believe it). Every wrong done adds up. Those of us who want peace must work at it every chance we get for as long as it takes.
Are trials being held within the same town... If that's the case, then that might be a factor in why half of the people didn't show up for jury duty. Even if they wanted to punish those responsible, they might have been trying to avoid any backlash that might come toward whoever winds up on the jury.
I think racial unity is a cause worth fighting for... but I don't know if I'd have the guts it'd take to bring myself in a position that could attract negative attention, it takes a certain type of person to be willing to martyr themselves.
Easy. People won't talk about the elephant sitting in the middle of the room. They make assumptions--they won't discuss real issues. I have more to say on this because I have seen it all too much. But I will just say that if people don't talk about the hard stuff critically, the feelings will come out in anger and discrimination. As shocking as this incident may seem, it doesn't surprise me. People are braver in mobs. And racism is alive and well, just slightly more covert.
C-dell: This just happened?
I am shocked to say the least.
It is very sad to learn that racism still exists in the minds and upbringing of youths today.
Social unity is so very fragile, seemingly people live together, but the slightest incident can provoke an ugly outcome.
The human feeling of being superior than the other race thus believing to having more rights, is always there unfortunately.
I think my most recent post addresses the issue quite Succinctly.
The "Racial" divisions we are seeing today are manufactured. They are designed to keep us from uniting and dealing with the real evil in today's world.
I think much of what we are seeing is a matter of scapegoating rather than color difference.
We are seeing minorities including black, Mexican, Indian and oriental come under fire for economic reasons as opposed to racial difference.
Minorities are viewed as threats to white workers who are afraid of losing their union jobs.
This is all by design.
The 2004 campaign to demonize gay people was a way of opening the door to the cloakroom of white sheets. Racists could feel good about their bigotry again-the gay was just a figurehead to get at what most of these hatemongers REALLY have on their agenda. They hate anything and everything not exactly like THEM, and that hatred has been nurtured by Der Rovesmarschall and Chimpy. Fanatics never skip a vote after all.
I think that if we fight hard enough that racism can be reduced.
I like your observation of "reduced" vs eliminated. You see reality better than a lot of folks.
I had a personal experience in my youth which was eventful (for me at least). I've written several times about racial issues in a no nonsense, reality based tone, both white and black, and I've gotten my head handed to me on a platter for many of the posts. That's too bad. Like you, I believe if the reality of a situation isn't addressed, you're never going to change that situation.
I love what Enemy Of The Republic said:
Easy. People won't talk about the elephant sitting in the middle of the room.
God, if THAT ain't the truth!!
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